42 U.S. Code § 12653 - Additional Corporation activities to support national service

The Corporation may carry out this section directly (except as provided in subsection (g)) or through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements with other entities.

(b) Innovation and quality improvement

The Corporation may undertake activities to address emergent needs through summer programs and other activities, and to support service-learning programs and national service programs, including—

(1)programs, including programs for rural youth, under division B or C of this subchapter;

(2)employer-based retiree programs;

(3)intergenerational programs;

(4)programs involving individuals with disabilities as participants providing service; and

(5)programs sponsored by Governors.

(c) Conferences and materials

The Corporation may organize and hold conferences, and prepare and publish materials, to disseminate information and promote the sharing of information among programs for the purpose of improving the quality of programs and projects.

(d) Research

The Corporation may support research on national service, including service-learning.

(e) Youth leadership

The Corporation may support activities to enhance the ability of youth and young adults to play leadership roles in national service.

(f) National program identity

The Corporation may support the development and dissemination of materials, including training materials, and arrange for uniforms and insignia, designed to promote unity and shared features among programs that receive assistance under the national service laws.

(g) Global Youth Service Day

(1) Designation

April 24, 2009, and April 23, 2010, are each designated as “Global Youth Service Days”. The President is authorized and directed to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate youth-led community improvement and service-learning activities.

(2) Federal activities

In order to observe Global Youth Service Day at the Federal level, the Corporation and other Federal departments and agencies may organize and carry out appropriate youth-led community improvement and service-learning activities.

(3) Activities

The Corporation and other Federal departments and agencies may make grants to public or private nonprofit organizations with demonstrated ability to carry out appropriate activities, in order to support such activities on Global Youth Service Day.

(h) Assistance for Head Start

The Corporation may make grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, public or nonprofit private agencies and organizations that receive grants or contracts under the Foster Grandparent Program (part B of title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [42 U.S.C. 5011 et seq.]), for projects of the type described in section 211(a) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 5011] operating under memoranda of agreement with the Corporation, for the purpose of increasing the number of low-income individuals who provide services under such program to children who participate in Head Start programs under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C 9831 et seq).

(i) Martin Luther King, Jr., Service Day

(1) Assistance

The Corporation may make grants to eligible entities described in paragraph (2) to pay for the Federal share of the cost of planning and carrying out service opportunities in conjunction with the Federal legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Such service opportunities shall consist of activities reflecting the life and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., such as cooperation and understanding among racial and ethnic groups, nonviolent conflict resolution, equal economic and educational opportunities, and social justice.

(2) Eligible entities

Any entity otherwise eligible for assistance under the national services laws shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection.

(3) Repealed. Pub. L. 105–354, § 2(b),Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3244

(4) Federal share

Grants provided under this subsection to an eligible entity to support the planning and carrying out of a service opportunity in conjunction with the Federal legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., together with all other Federal funds used to plan or carry out the service opportunity, may not exceed 30 percent of the cost of planning and carrying out the service opportunity.

(5) Calculation of entity contributions

In determining the non-Federal share of the costs of planning and carrying out a service opportunity supported by a grant under this subsection, the Corporation shall consider in-kind contributions (including facilities, equipment, and services) made to plan or carry out the service opportunity.

(j) Call to Service Campaign

Not later than 180 days after April 21, 2009, the Corporation shall conduct a nationwide “Call To Service” campaign, to encourage all people of the United States, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status, to engage in full- or part-time national service, long- or short-term public service in the nonprofit sector or government, or volunteering. In conducting the campaign, the Corporation may collaborate with other Federal agencies and entities, State Commissions, Governors, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, businesses, institutions of higher education, elementary schools, and secondary schools.

(k) September 11th Day of Service

(1) Federal activities

The Corporation may organize and carry out appropriate ceremonies and activities, which may include activities that are part of the broader Call to Service Campaign under subsection (j), in order to observe the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance at the Federal level.

(2) Activities

The Corporation may make grants and provide other support to community-based organizations to assist in planning and carrying out appropriate service, charity, and remembrance opportunities in conjunction with the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.

(3) Consultation

The Corporation may consult with and make grants or provide other forms of support to nonprofit organizations with expertise in representing families of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and other impacted constituencies, and in promoting the establishment of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (h), is Pub. L. 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 394. Title I and part B of title II of the Act are classified generally to subchapter I (§ 4951 et seq.) and part B (§ 5011 et seq.) of subchapter II, respectively, of chapter
66 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
4950 of this title and Tables.

The Head Start Act, referred to in subsec. (h), is subchapter B (§§ 635–657) of chapter 8 of subtitle A of title VI of Pub. L. 97–35, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 499, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 9831 et seq.) of chapter
105 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
9801 of this title and Tables.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1802(a)(2), substituted “to address emergent needs through summer programs and other activities, and to support service-learning programs and national service programs, including—” for “to improve the quality of national service programs, including service-learning programs, and to support innovative and model programs, including—” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1802(b)(1)(B), (C), substituted “April 24, 2009, and April 23, 2010, are each designated as ‘Global Youth Service Days’.” for “April 19, 1994, and April 18, 1995, are each designated as ‘National Youth Service Day’.” and “appropriate youth-led community improvement and service-learning activities” for “appropriate ceremonies and activities”.

1998—Subsec. (s)(3). Pub. L. 105–354struck out heading and text of par. (3). Text read as follows: “In making grants under this subsection, the Corporation shall consult with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission established under section
169j–1 of title
36.”

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to encourage the growth and maximize the impact of innovative community solutions and civic participation by all Americans, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. There is established the White House Council for Community Solutions (Council) within the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support the social innovation and civic participation agenda of the Domestic Policy Council.

Sec. 2. Mission and Functions of the Council. The Council shall support the nationwide “Call To Service” campaign authorized in the Serve America Act (Public Law 111–13) by:

(a) identifying the key attributes of effective community-developed solutions to our national problems;

(b) identifying specific policy areas in which the Federal Government is investing significant resources that lend themselves to cross-sector collaboration and providing recommendations for such collaborations;

(c) highlighting examples of best practices, tools, and models that are making a demonstrable positive impact in communities and fostering increased cross-sector collaboration and civic participation;

(d) making recommendations to the President on how to engage individuals, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, non-profit and philanthropic organizations, community groups, and businesses to support innovative community-developed solutions that have a significant impact in solving our Nation’s most serious problems; and

(e) honoring and highlighting the work of leaders in service and social innovation who are making a significant impact in their communities.

Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Council shall be composed of not more than 30 members from outside the Federal Government appointed by the President. The Chair of the Board of Directors of the CNCS shall also serve on the Council. Appointed members of the Council may include individuals with relevant experience or subject matter expertise that the President deems appropriate, as well as individuals who may serve as representatives of a variety of sectors, including, among others, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, non-profit and philanthropic organizations, community groups, and businesses.

(b) The President shall designate one of the members of the Council to serve as Chair. The Chair shall convene and preside at meetings of the Council.

(c) The term of office of members appointed by the President shall be 2 years, and members shall be eligible for reappointment. Members may continue to serve after the expiration of their terms until the President appoints a successor. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term of such vacancy.

Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The CNCS shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

(b) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Council, consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council.

(c) The members of the Council shall serve without compensation for their work on the Council. Members of the Council may, however, receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707).

(d) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the “Act”), may apply to the administration of the Council, any functions of the President under the Act, except that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Chief Executive Officer of the CNCS in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Administrator of General Services.

Sec. 5. Termination. The Council shall terminate 2 years from the date of this order, unless renewed by the President.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.